Europe’s prosperity is not to be built via political declarations and never-ending summits: promoting free, fair and open international trade and removing the remaining barriers to an effective single market in Europe are key for future growth

The economic crisis means that Europe now faces a radical economic shift if it it is to secure economic growth in the long term. Petr Nečas, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, argues that while austerity and budgetary consolidation are immediately necessary, the EU also needs to pursue support measures to encourage competitiveness, increase European demand and resist calls for increased international trade protectionism.